By Wesley Thomas
Everyone has a deep fear of death, not only of death itself, but also of the way it will happen. Will we die in our sleep? Or will we meet a horrible fate? Everyone fears the worst possible way they could die; being murdered, eaten by sharks, drowning, all of which pale in comparison to the future of some passengers who embark on the Dark Frontier journey, exploiting and inventing a new phobia of how they will die. Michael Brent Collins takes you on the ultimate journey filled with thrills, twists, ghouls, and shocking revelations.
Dark Frontier explores the New York City subway system like never before, and it’s safe to say that after reading this book, you’ll think twice about riding the subway. If you do, you’ll undoubtedly be more observant of your surroundings.
Jim is an ordinary New Yorker who experiences a very unpleasant encounter while waiting for the subway on the platform, then jumps on the subway and begins his familiar and slightly ordinary journey. But Jim doesn’t realize that this journey is anything but monotonous. When some strange events occur, he is greatly shaken inside, and soon he realizes that not only will this journey keep changing, but he and his companions may not survive.
This novel instantly piques your interest with its unusual combination of characters. All the characters’ backgrounds contrast in wealth and social status, culture and tradition, intelligence and personality, all of which add to the tension of the plot, especially when the characters begin to conflict with each other. Just as this group tension and conflict escalates, the truth about what they are really supposed to be fighting against begins to emerge.
At first, the characters are just stereotypes who act and react the way we are led to believe. But as we progress deeper into the story, as similarities emerge, unexpected character collaborations begin, and their newfound friendships are put to the ultimate test as they decide how far they will go to save this new acquaintance.
They each have their own personal motivations, which is great for the characterization of each of them. But I think Jim’s motivations help make his character and story more engaging. Like many successful novels, there is a large degree of voyeurism in this book. We get a voyeuristic pleasure from how a group of strangers interact with each other and how they deal with their own fears and insecurities. Little secrets are eventually revealed to us, revealing that these characters are not who they seem.
One of the special things about this novel is that it incorporates various sub-genres within horror fiction, from human murder to the undead to supernatural dangers. As each new horror begins to reveal itself, you’ll be on the edge of your seat, anxious to know what this could be.
As they are forced to move from one car to another, along the terrifying subway train, the sense of terror gradually increases; perfectly in line with the storyline, the incarnation of evil keeps increasing. This complements the storyline and ends with an incomprehensible climax that will satisfy your deepest desire for horror addiction.
The overall feel of the book is unlike anything I’ve read before, and it really creates a sense of alienation that is not only scary but also strangely aware. When you realize that there is no end to anything, whether it’s the universe, space, or time, you can get confused and have something like an existential crisis. This is achieved through excellent writing and the thought-provoking questions involved in the book.
Another factor is that Jim’s powers of observation are remarkable, and his profession allows him to make more educated observations, analyze, and predict human behavior. As crazy as it sounds, this can both calm people’s suffering and create more suffering.
The ending is what all horror writers dream of. In my opinion, it is the most satisfying ending to a horror novel I have ever read. The story itself gets so weird at times that you wonder if everything is random or if there is a hidden meaning? Is this someone’s nightmare or is all this the horrible truth? Is the subway some kind of twisted judge, jury and executioner?
The ending allows the reader to escape from the common conventions of horror novel endings and answers every question that has popped up in your mind during this extraordinary journey. Every action is justified and even the smallest details can have great significance.
This is an unforgettable read that you will compare all your novels to in the future. Pick up the book now and read it for yourself!
grade:5/5
